Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management and writes on financial subjects here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs and Seeking Alpha. He earned a BS in Accounting and Business Administration from Berry College; a Juris Doctorate from the Woodrow Wilson School of Law; and... More

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OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWSJune E-mini S&Ps (ESM13 +0.11%) this morning are up +0.12% at another fresh record high. European stocks rose +0.64% to a 1-3/4 year high after German factory orders unexpectedly increased. Another positive for global stocks was the action by the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 bp. Portugal's 10-year government bond yield slipped to 5.44%, the lowest in 2-3/4 years as the country readies the markets for a sale of 3 billion euros of 10-year government bonds, its first sale of a new bond since it asked for a bailout 2 years ago. Asian stocks closed mixed: Japan +3.55%, Hong Kong +0.58%, China +0.16%, Taiwan -0.07%, Australia -0.24%, Singapore +0.03%, South Korea -0.53%, India +1.09%. Commodity prices are mixed. June WTI crude oil (CLM13 -0.52%) is down -0.48%. June gasoline (RBM13 -0.43%) is down -0.45%, June natural gas (NGM13 -0.97%) is down -0.62%, June gold (GCM13 -0.35%) is down -0.54%, July copper (HGN13 -0.30%) is down -0.20%. Agriculture prices are higher. The dollar index (DXY00 -0.24%) is lower by -0.24%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.40%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.08%. June 10-year T-note futures prices (ZNM13 -0.02%) are little changed, down -0.5 of a tick.German Mar factory orders unexpectedly climbed +2.2% m/m, stronger than expectations for a -0.5% m/m decline, while factory orders fell-0.4% y/y, better than expectations for a -2.9% y/y decline.The UK April BRC shop price index weakened to a +0.4% increase from a +1.4% gain in March.The UK April Lloyds employment confidence improved slightly to -41 from -45 in March.The Reserve Bank of Australia (NYSE:RBA) cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 bp to a record low 2.75% and RBA Governor Stevens said "The board has previously noted that the inflation outlook would afford scope to ease further and that a further decline in the cash rate was appropriate to encourage sustainable growth in the economy."

MARKET COMMENTSJune E-mini S&Ps (ESM13 +0.11%) this morning are up +2.00 points (+0.12%) at a new record high. The S&P 500 index on Monday posted a fresh record high and closed higher. Stocks found carry-over support from last Friday's gains after U.S. employment in April rose more than expected. Also, stocks continue to receive a boost from strong earnings results as 73% of the 407 S&P 500 companies that have reported Q1 earnings results thus far have beaten expectations. Closes: S&P 500 +0.19%, Dow Jones -0.03%, Nasdaq 100 +0.37%.June 10-year T-notes (ZNM13 -0.02%) this morning are little changed, down -0.5 of a tick. June 10-year T-note futures prices on Monday closed lower. T-notes added to Friday's losses and posted a fresh 3-week low as stronger equities reduced the safe-haven demand for Treasuries, along with supply pressures ahead of this week's May refunding of $72 billion of T-notes and T-bonds that begins Tuesday with the Treasury's $32 billion 3-year T-note auction. Closes: TYM3 -6.0, FVM3 -2.75.The dollar index (DXY00 -0.24%) this morning is lower by -0.201 (-0.24%). EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.0052 (+0.40%) and USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.08 (-0.08%). The dollar index on Monday closed higher. EUR/USD was knocked lower after comments from ECB Executive Board member Coeure who said the ECB is ready to cut interest rates further if the economic outlook in the Eurozone worsens. USD/JPY rallied up to a 1-week high as the yen weakened after stock market strength reduced the safe-haven demand for the yen. Closes: Dollar index +0.190 (+0.23%), EUR/USD -0.00406 (-0.31%), USD/JPY +0.326 (+0.33%).June WTI crude oil (CLM13 -0.52%) this morning is down -46 cents a barrel (-0.48%). June gasoline (RBM13 -0.43%) is down -1.28 cents per gallon (-0.45%). June crude oil and gasoline on Monday rallied sharply in overnight trade after Israel made several air strikes in Syria over the weekend, but prices fell back from their best levels on speculation there won't be much effect on oil flow through the Middle East. Another negative factor that pulled Jun crude off of a 1-month high was the stronger dollar. Closes: CLM3 +0.55 (+0.58%), RBM3 +0.0403 (+1.43%).

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